Migrants on the border

The United Nations agency for refugees this week called on central European countries to overcome public opposition and give more help to refugees.

The region saw significant numbers of refugees pass through its territory en route to Austria, Germany and Sweden in the last year, until Hungary built a fence on its southern borders with Serbia and Croatia.

12 Feb 2016. Sid, Serbia. Reuters/Marko Djurica

Calls for more assistance also came from a U.S. senator visiting migrants and refugees at a train station in the town of Sid, which straddles the border between Serbia and Croatia.

Senator John McCain urged financial help for refugees in Europe, including those fleeing violence in Syria and Afghanistan.

"We will be returning and asking our colleagues to vote for additional assistance,” said McCain.

“We also will do everything we can to bring about peace in the Middle East, to stop the wanton killing which is causing this enormous humanitarian problem,” said the Republican senator.